Being the Queen
Channel: National Geographic Channel (DStv 181 / StarSat 220)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Documentary, History
"I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust."
— Her Majesty The Queen, Coronation Day, June 2, 1953
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was raised in luxurious obscurity as a member of the royal family, but after her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936, her life was forever changed when her father, King George VI took the throne.
Following his shocking, sudden death, Elizabeth immediately assumed monarchy responsibilities and formally began her reign as Queen Elizabeth II, in June 1953, at the young age of 27.
Having pledged her service to the Commonwealth and devoted her life to the Crown, now, nearly 70 years later, Her Majesty The Queen is Britain's longest-reigning monarch and the longest-reigning queen in world history.
She has been in the public eye for decades, but there are still stories of Queen Elizabeth II's life that have remained sealed behind Buckingham Palace doors... until now.
Now, more than 25,000 days into her epic reign, National Geographic premieres the sweeping documentary, Being the Queen.
Providing a captivating window into the extremely private life of Queen Elizabeth II, the film focuses on important moments when the hidden side of the House of Windsor collides with the public life of the monarchy.
Being the Queen sifts through thousands of rare photographs and hundreds of hours of footage to showcase a treasure trove of intimate, rare and never-before-seen or heard accounts of Elizabeth II's accession to the throne and puts viewers in the room during some of the most important and trying events of British monarchy history.
The film utilises archival sources from around the world, such as British Movietone, Reuters, the BBC, ITN and ITV, and includes the following:
Never-Before-Heard Interviews
Located deep in the US Library of Congress, newly digitised unused interviews from Deborah Hart Strober and Gerald S. Strober's 2002 biography, The Monarchy, are for the first time broadcast.
Interviews are with friends, confidantes, private secretaries and politicians who witnessed the Queen's historic reign from the inside.
Unheard Audio
In never-before-heard audio recordings from biographer Anne de Courcy's files, you can hear Princess Margaret's husband, Lord Snowden, describe his visit to the Welsh mining town of Aberfan following the 1966 disaster that killed 116 children and 28 adults.
Never-Before-Seen Home Movies
For the first time, viewers witness the Queen's visit to Aberfan after the horrific disaster, which was filmed by local resident Harry Breeze.
Rare Radio Broadcasts
From the archives of the BBC, extremely rare broadcasts include the announcement of King George VI's death and live broadcasts from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Rare Photographs
From the archives of the Evening Standard, with original grease pencil markings, before they had been cropped for printing, this collection of photographs includes a rare candid photo of Princess Margaret riding horses with fiancé Peter Townsend.
The twosome was rarely photographed together in any intimate or informal setting.
The Perseus Survivor
Channel: Curiosity Channel (DStv 185)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Docu-Drama, Documentary, History
The Perseus Survivor documents the story of British Navy stoker John Capes, the lone survivor of a sunken submarine who hid from enemy forces for 18 months before his rescue.
The docu-drama reveals the story of the World War II Submarine HMS Perseus and presumably undercover agent John Capes – the only man of 61 who survived the explosion causing the loss of said vessel.
The intense investigation of her unnoticed loss by the research team, led by the famous underwater researcher Richie Kohler, uncovered the whole sequence of interconnected events that brought to light the numerous mysteries buried in the dark waters of Mediterranean.
60 Days on the Streets
Channel: SABC3
TX Time: 19h30
Genre: Documentary Series, Docu-Reality
Former soldier and explorer Ed Stafford spends 60 winter days and nights on the streets to get a first-hand view of Britain's growing homeless crisis.
The self-shooting ex-soldier spends winter on the streets with no money, no food and no shelter.
Ed served his country as an Army captain and homelessness is an issue close to his heart given that around 13,000 ex-military personnel are homeless.
Now Ed's putting himself on the streets through the harsh British winter and filming his experiences.
Risking his physical and mental health, Ed will live alongside the homeless to capture the reality of their day-to-day existence.
At the age of 43, Ed is at the upper limit of the life expectancy of rough sleepers.
60 Days on the Streets will endeavour to show the human face of homelessness across London, Manchester and Glasgow, telling the stories of those on the streets, how they ended up there and how they survive at a time of increasing crisis.
The number of rough sleepers in the UK has more than doubled since 2010, with a seven-fold increase in Manchester.
In central London numbers have rocketed by 647% in just one year.
Celebrity Game Face
Channel: E! (DStv 124)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Game Show
Join Kevin Hart and his wife Eniko as they return to host Celebrity Game Face, guiding three teams of two celebrity participants through a ridiculous and wildly entertaining game night.
The show started as a special which aired on E! in July - now it's back with new celebs and new games.
Terry and Rachel Bradshaw, Rob Schneider and Patricia Maya Schneider, Tracee Ellis Ross and Evan Ross, Meghan Trainor and Ryan Trainor, Victor Cruz and Karrueche Tran and more compete in this ridiculous at-home game night, where the various games include:
Big Facts
Partners must guess which personal fun facts are true or false
Read My Lips
Requires partners to guess phrases while wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
Booty Shake
Partners must use their best dance moves to empty as many balls as they can out of a box wrapped around their waist in a matter of seconds.
At the end of the night, each couple will be awarded money for the charity of their choice, but only one team will win the coveted 'Hart of a Champion' trophy - a gold statue of baby Kevin Hart.
The Crown 4
Channel: Netflix South Africa
TX Time: 10h00 (all episodes)
Genre: Drama, Period Drama
This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
As the 1970s are drawing to a close, Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Colman) and her family find themselves preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Prince Charles, who is still unmarried at 30.
As the nation begins to feel the impact of divisive policies introduced by Britain's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson), tensions arise between her and the Queen which only grow worse as Thatcher leads the country into the Falklands War, generating conflict within the Commonwealth.
While Charles' romance with a young Lady Diana Spencer provides a much-needed fairytale to unite the British people, behind closed doors, the Royal family is becoming increasingly divided.
The Wonderful World of Blood
Channel: Da Vinci (DStv 318)
TX Time: 22h00
Genre: Documentary, Science
Of all the wonders of the human body, there's one more mysterious than any other...
Blood: five precious litres that keep us alive. Yet how much do we really know about this sticky red substance and its mysterious, life-giving force?
Michael Mosley gives up a fifth of his own blood to perform six bold experiments.
From starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom, Michael reveals the extraordinary abilities of blood to adapt and keep us alive.
Using specialist photography, the programme reveals the beauty in a single drop.
Michael even discovers how it tastes when, in a television first, he prepares a black pudding with his own blood.
Down the ages, our understanding of blood has been as much myth as science, but Michael reveals there might be truth in the old vampire legends, as he meets one of the scientists behind the latest research that shows young blood might be able to reverse the ageing process - the holy grail of modern medicine.
Little Big Shots 3
Channel: e.tv
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Variety, Comedy, Reality
Little Big Shots returns for Season 3 with more talented and unique kids from all over the US and the world.
Steve Harvey hosts the family-friendly series, executive produced by Harvey and Ellen DeGeneres, and goes toe to with them in hilarious conversations and interviews.
This season features never-before-seen acts, including everything from a soap bubble artist to pint-sized aerialists, a golf prodigy and the world's strongest kid, as well as remarkable young experts in astronomy, mathematics and archaeology.
Adding to the fun will be kids who are incredibly gifted in music - ranging from pop to opera and country to classical, and on instruments that include the ukulele, drums, piano and more.
Little Big Shots will also showcase kids who took the Internet by storm with viral videos, guaranteeing lots of comedy and surprises in this series that celebrates phenomenal children from all over the globe.
In addition to kids from the United States, Season 3 will also feature talented tykes from Ethiopia, India, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the Philippines.
The Season 3 premiere features a confident 4-year-old who belts out Frank Sinatra songs, a charming 9-year-old bubble artist from Germany, a 7-year-old math expert and a 5-year-old presidential expert who recites John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address.
Also impressing are a 10-year-old contortionist and a 12-year-old gospel singer who's voice will leave mere mortals singing his praises.
TVSA Show Page: Little Big Shots 3
Caribbean Life 18
Channel: HGTV (DStv 177)
TX Time: 20h35
Genre: Reality
Many people dream of owning a little slice of paradise, so the white sands and crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean make it a popular choice for house hunters.
This series follows families as they leave the US mainland behind and head to the Caribbean to enjoy a different pace of life.
Joined by expert realtors, they search for an affordable property, touring gorgeous homes on tropical shores.
In the Season 18 premiere, "A Rendezvous with a View": Looking for a break from their demanding jobs, a Nashville couple seeks a home with breathtaking views on St. John.
He's willing to stretch the budget for a house large enough to fit extended family, but she's got the balance sheet on her mind.
In the second episode of the weekly double bill, "Testing New Waters in Sosua, Dominican Republic": Exhausted from the work grind, a California couple is eager to shake things up in Sosua, Dominican Republic.
He wants to save money to put toward a business on the island, but buying a spacious home for their large family is her top priority.
Cold War, Hot Jets
Channel: Curiosity Channel (DStv 185)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Documentary, History, Technology
This two-part documentary reveals how the invention of the jet engine transformed Britain after the Second World War and came to capture the imagination of a generation and define how the Cold War was fought.
Britain emerged from the Second World War in financial crisis, but one technological innovation provided hope for the future - a world-leading jet aviation industry.
During the Cold War, the jet engine became a lucrative export and a powerful piece of military hardware, but selling to the wrong buyer could alter the balance of power.
As an 'Iron Curtain' fell across Europe, the jet bomber came to define how the Cold War was fought.
Able to fly faster, higher and further than ever before, and armed with a devastating new weapon, Britain's V Force became the platform for delivering nuclear Armageddon.